The mission: Explore the deep-sea world of New Zealands Kaikoura Canyon. This rich ecosystem is home to one of the seas last great mysteriesthe giant squid, a creature never yet observed in its habitat.
The 1997 Kaikoura expedition drew together the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution, along with scientists from around the world.

Nationalgeographic.com was with them, zapping you firsthand reports of this maritime adventure. (Note: Nationalgeographic.com does not research or edit dispatches.)